Powermatic III+

Initial Review -I made a decision back in August 2022 to stop buying packs or cartons of cigarettes. On a carton basis, (10 packs) cigarettes can cost $82-$100+ depending on where you live. I started making my own or as it's called RYO (roll your own) by using a Top-O-Matic hand crank roller. Worked pretty well mostly but was time-consuming and messy. Many times I'd crank out a dud that didn't fill correctly and have to either throw it away or try to finesse the tobacco out of the tube and start again. I'd watched many YouTube videos of people using this Powermatic III+ and saying how much they liked it. So, about a week ago I decided to get my own and here I am writing my initial review.As you can see from the photos there's not much to it. The machine has a few accessories to clean it or clear a jam. There were also 3 tiny clear rubber-like replacement pieces for the tube gripper thing. I only glanced over the instructions as I had already watched so many videos that I knew how to operate it. So far I've been making both Kings and 100s. I make the Kings on the lower setting and 100s on the highest setting and they both turn out perfectly. I haven't tried the middle setting. I understand the 3 settings, low, medium, high determine the density of the tobacco that fills each tube. At this time I'll use the low setting for Kings and the high setting for 100s. Those seem about right for me and the tube sizes I'm using.I had read that you don't want to use overly moist tobacco and many people had recommended moisture content of the tobacco be perhaps 14-16%. I checked the moisture of my tobacco before using it and fresh out of the bag, it measured around 22-24%. So, I spread out a pile to dry for a while. After about 35 minutes the moisture content had come down to 16% so I proceeded to make some cigs. I will add that I live in a dry climate so reducing the moisture was a rather quick process. The particular brand of tobacco I'm using today is not what I'd call long-cut or stringy. You can see in my photos that there are some longer strands but it's mostly a medium cut I'd say and works great in the PMIII+. I've seen YouTubers cut with scissors longer cuts of tobacco. When filling the tobacco chamber on the machine I filled it almost to the top but didn't pack it. It's said by some that a full hopper of tobacco will make 30-35 cigarettes.Conclusion:If you're a smoker and not inclined to quit I'd recommend getting yourself a PMIII+. If nothing else you'll save a ton of money. I kind of think it's fun to make my cigarettes. For me, I can make a pack of cigarettes for about $0.90 - $0.95/pack as opposed to $8.00+ a pack. Once you are all set up with the machine, filter tubes, and tobacco you should be able to make a carton in about 30 minutes or less. If you have any questions about the machine, process, or where to buy the tobacco and tubes I know of a couple of good websites offering good prices. For example - a 1lb. bag of tobacco runs about $13-$16 and the filter tubes $1.79 - $3.29 for boxes of 200 tubes. Rolling Your Own is a no-brainer! And one final note - after purchasing your PMIII+ and an initial supply of tobacco and tubes, you'll probably recoup the cost of the machine in about a month. You might expect to make about 4 cartons with a 1lb. bag of tobacco. Don't worry, be happy! - you will get the "Hopper" notice on the PMIII+ screen occasionally. Don't sweat it or let this deter you. It happens to everyone and every machine and is easily resolved by either adding more tobacco to the hopper or simply stirring the tobacco a little bit. No biggie. I hope my experience has been helpful to your decision-making process.UPDATE: 03-04-2023I've now been using the PMIII+ for about a month. THIS THING IS GREAT! The following are a few tips and my experience to date. The first thing and perhaps the most important is making sure your tobacco isn't too moist which it will be right out of a freshly opened bag. I do have a small moisture meter I use to gauge the moisture content. I have found that by spreading out an amount you intend to roll and let it air dry for a while. For me, that usually takes about 30-40 minutes. That will lower the moisture from about 24-25% down to 14-16% which I find is ideal. I do live in a dry climate so it might take you a little longer in a more humid climate. Keep your tobacco stored either in the zip bag it came in or another airtight container. You don't want to use overly "stringy" tobacco. If your is, I suggest cutting it some. You don't want to use a very fine cut either. You will just have to experiment a little and gain some experience. Too moist and too dry or fine is a non-starter.HOPPER ERROR - don't let this concern you as it WILL happen during the course of making your cigarettes. When I get the error I go ahead and push the start button again and the machine will still produce the cigarette. Then, open the lid and stir and or add more tobacco. Usually while making your cigarettes the machine will "cycle" 2-3 times and then produce the cigarette. Sometimes you'll notice it cycling many more times but still producing your cigarette. When I hear that I usually open the hopper, stir the tobacco and add some. This only takes a second or two then you're back to business.NOT AN AD: I have found that I like Good Stuff - Silver tobacco and Gambler - Silver tubes. This produces a light or perhaps ultra-light smoke. The suppliers of tobacco have many selections to choose from in both tobacco brands and types. Same with the filter tubes. I have tried several brands and types over the past months. I'd say they were all good. I just happen to like Good Stuff brand for taste and cut. Others I've tried are OHM, Cherokee, and Criss Cross. All good. Remember, all cigarette tobacco is sold and labeled as Pipe tobacco.Most of the time I make King size cigarettes. However, the machine does make 100s just as well. When I make Kings I use the lowest setting and 100s on the highest setting. These both work perfectly for me. I have also experimented a little by mixing 1/3 mint or menthol tobacco with my regular tobacco. I actually like it. Most of the time I'll sit and watch golf or football and roll about 10-12 packs and this will take about 1 hour not counting any prep (drying) time. I store my rolled packs of cigarettes in either TOP or Tube Cut brand plastic flip-top boxes. You'll want to get a supply of these and they are not expensive. These comfortably hold 18 cigarettes.If I were you and thinking about starting to roll your own, I'd recommend skipping the hand-crank models and diving right into the Powermatic III+. Don't waste your time thinking you might not like RYO cigarettes. You will and probably more than the expensive store-bought brands. If nothing else you'll certainly enjoy making great quality and great tasting cigarettes for only $0.90 - $0.95 a pack!! Let me know if you have any questions.UPDATE: 5-8-23Nothing major here. Just a tip I'd like to share. Since I purchased my PMIII I've mostly been making King-size cigarettes. Regarding moisture content, I'm now solidly recommending that you try to achieve a 14% moisture target when drying the tobacco before rolling. I rolled some recently that was ~12% (I forgot to check on it as I was letting it dry) and although it rolled fine and with no Hopper error messages, the tobacco burned too quickly and tended to fall out of the top 1/8" to 1/4" of the finished tube/cigarette. I am also recommending using the middle selection when rolling. After months of using the lowest selection, I've determined that the middle selection (for Kings anyway) produces a slightly firmer cigarette which also burns slower and is more uniform IMO. It still draws nicely and the "cherry" stays firmly in place. For me this is ideal. To date I've made a little over 1,800 cigarettes and the machine is working perfectly. Lastly, the next time I order I'm going to try a bag of house-brand tobacco from Smokers Outlet and see how I like it. It's a few dollars cheaper. I'll let you know. I'm currently rolling Cherokee brand and it's a good quality tobacco. No need to cut or chop it - not stringy. Very few "sticks".UPDATE: 6-21-23Previously I said I'd give Smokers Outlet house brand tobacco a try. Well, I have and can't recommend it with the PMIII machine. This brand - Silver, is too "stringy" and the machine doesn't like it. I'll get 4-5 Hopper errors per pack. Normally, with other brands such as Cherokee, Good Stuff, OHM I rarely encounter a Hopper error. I never have to chop or cut these other brands I like. Only drying a bit before rolling. The slightly lower price for the SO house brand isn't worth it IMO. TIP: Before rolling I dry my tobacco to reduce the moisture content. (see above) I now also sift the tobacco slightly prior to drying. I use a cheap metal kitchen-type strainer to sift out the power. I think it might help to keep the fines out of the machine too. Always look for and pluck out any small sticks or stem cuttings you find.

I started out with a hand crank model years ago. Very aggravating, slow, and broke in no time. I deliver tobacco to a smoke shop at work, and asked the guy what is the best rolling machine. This was years ago. And without hesitation he said the Powermatic II +. He was correct. I used it for many years. My wife and I both smoke and I was trying to do a week's worth of cigarettes on my day off. And it was eating up a lot of my time. There are several critical steps you have to do with that machine to make it work. Which I mastered, but again, too much time involved for me. Enter the Powermatic III +!!! Much more expensive, but a dream if you know how to use it right. The most important thing is to prepare your tobacco correctly. It can't handle long shreds of tobacco that is super moist. I use the good stuff gold. It needs only a very quick and simple preparation. Just take a pile of tobacco and lift up the longer shreds that clumped together and snip them a little with a scissors. The majority of this tobacco is mostly just fine to begin with. The tobacco must be able to fall into the chamber with the help of the machine. If the shred is too long it can't get down in the chute. It only takes me a minute or two to prepare a large amount of tobacco. I don't even need to worry about the moisture content. After that just put the tobacco in the Hopper and fluff it up. And once in awhile just fluff it up again until you put in the next batch. Then it is just a process of putting the tube on the machine and pressing the button. I use the medium setting and do king size tubes. And I never get a jam or a failed cigarette. And it's fast! Probably at least three times faster than my previous machine. You can do whole lot of cigarettes in a short amount of time. And the cigarettes are perfectly packed. Right down to the filter. This is a wonderful machine.